The Portland daily press., 1887-12-29
HAPPY MoREHEAD.
The struggle for Blood Followed by
Strife for Gold.
Peace and Prosperity In the Little
Kentucky Town.
circumstances Of the Reign Of the
ToIIIver Gang Recalled.

ago last Thursday the leaders or the noto-
rious Tolliver gang in this town paid the
penalty for their numerous misdeeds with
death. The head leader of the fighters.
Craig Tolliver, and three of his most daring
spirits, Bud and Jay Tolliver, and Hiram
Cooper, on that day fell, pierced with innum-
cradle bullets from Winchester rifles and
shotguns in the hands of the posse organ
lied and armed by ID. B. Logan. For months
before that fateful 22nd Of June the people
Of Morehead lived in mortal dread and all
those who were able fed ths town. Real es-
tate deprecated in value until homes and
lots were offered for about half the money
the houses alone cost. Even at these low
rates no purchasers could be found, and
owners OF property either left the same to
the mercy OF the outlaws or remained ex-
pecting to be killed at any time. Business
of all kinds was almost entirely suspended.
except the selling Of whiskey, which was
carried on by Craig Tolliver without license
and in defiance of the local option law which
prevails in Morehead precinct. This was
the state of affairs in Morehead when, on
the 10Th day Of last June, ID. B. Logan went
to Cincinnati and bought from Kittredge Il
Co. about one hundred 45-calibre Winchester
rifles, which he shipped to Enterprise station
on the Newport News and Mississippi Val
ley railroad, where they were given out TO
the determined men who had previously
agreed to serve as posse to arrest the Toll
livers. Then took place the memorable
Morehead battle, which has passed into his
tory.
Many purists all over the county have crit
icised the good people Of Rowan county for
taking the law into their own hands and
Staying the four men who died by bullets
that day; but the result Of that battle has
been most wonderful indeed. The most
sanguine believers in the future prosperity
of Morehead last spring could not have
dreamed of the radical change in six short
months which has come about since Craig
Tolliver ftly ended his brutal life. By the
Goth Of June the population had dwindled
down to scarcely 800, while now 1t Is nearly
500. Business Is booming and everybody Is
ON the go, striving for the almighty dollar
instead Of each others blood. A. S. Barnes
q Co. began the publication here this week
of the Highland Blade, weekly paper, with
John L. Hazelrigg, formerly editor OF the
Mountain Scorcher, at West Liberty, as edi-
tor. This is the first paper ever published
In Rowan county.
tate in Morehead has advanced more than
100 per cent. over the prices Of six months
ago. Last spring a gentleman offered a
small house and lot for 500. Nobody wanted
it, He was offered the other day 500 for 1t.
whiehihe refused to take. Another gentle
5000. with no takers, and few weeks ago
he sold it for $500. Every house in town is
now occupied, and rents have risen consid-
sderably. No new houses are going up
now. but big boom is expected next spring.
The county officials seem to be trying TO
do their duty to the best Of their ability.
Squire Hogg is sheriff, and has for deputies
George Hogg, Andrew White and John Cas-
sidy. James Stewart Is county Judge; Geo.
A. Johnston, clerk Warren Anderson, treas
n
Parker, school superintendent James w.
johnson is circuit clerk, A. Z. Cole is cir
cult Judge, and j. H.. Sallee is common
wealth's attorney. George w: Salisbury Is
county attorney and also acts for the co M
monwealth before Judge Thomas Tippet,
who succeeded Craig Tofiiyer as police
judge. Judge Tippet Is engaged in the lum-
Der business, and although minus his right
eye, can see through any ordinary case as
quickly as anybody. His administration OF
the law has given entire satisfaction. Ap.
Perry, tall, raw-boned. lght-haired, typi-
discharges his duty without fear or favor.
ID. B. Logan is a lawyer, and has an Office
Immediately opposite the court house,
He has lucrative practice, although quite
a young man.
and nearly all the others whom Craig Tolli-
var and his gang forced to leave here, have
Mrs. Tolliver has sent her two boys back
to Ohio, of which State she is native, where
May, that being the time her lease on the
American House expires. III. Clay Powers,
the owner Of this property, was run out by
the Tollivers He is now living In Coying-
shot in the head by Mrs. Tolliver's oldest
boy, a few months ago, is living with his
parents at Olive Hill, KY. His mind is bad
ly impaired from the effects Of the ball from
young Tolliver's pistol. The little fellow Is
going to school, but on account Of his injury
Is making little progress.
DIR. III. M. Logan, father Of the two boys so
brutally murdered by Tolliver and his men
on the 6th of June, is living in Fleming
county. He has a daughter living in Rowan
county, whom he occasionally visits. He
has another daughter living in Bourbon
county.
There is much bad feeling still existing be-
tween the two factions. The TOllivers all
live in Elliott county, but come down to
Morehead frequently, and they have been
and the men who were with him on June Y.
Mrs. Bud Tolliver still lives in Morehead,
and she is very bitter against Logan. She
says his days are numbered, and that before
many months he will die with his boots on.
Logan and his men. however, seek 70 avoid
any further trouble, as the following two in
cidents will show:
Col. Tolliver and friend got on the night
train going east at Mt Sterling last Tuesday
night and went into the smoking car. Two
young men who had taken part in the fight
against the Tollivers, who were in the smOk-
ing ear, got up at once and went back into
the ladies' car; not that they were afraid OIL
them, they said, but because they did not
wish to have any difficulty.
John Friley Is young man about 20 years
old. He was with Logan in the battle, and
up to IA week ago had charge Of one Of the
Winchester rifles which figured in that hight.
He was working at sawmill on ChrlSty
Creek, and had taken his gun with him,
which he hid behind some -four sacks in Bill
Cooper's store. One night about week ago
Col. Tolliver, Boone Day, and IL. b. Wad-
dington went to the store and demanded the
gun of Cooper The latter begged them not
to take it telling them that It belonged to
Friley. and that he Cooper felt responsible
for the gun. Notwithstanding Cooper's
pleadings they took the gun, and went home.
sending word to Friley that If he wanted the
gun to come and take it, Last Wednesday
Friley went to see Logan about 1t, when the
latter told him to let the Tolliyers keep the
gum that 1t was not worth raising fuss
over.
The general impression seems to be that so
long as the T0lliver men are without lead
er there will be no trouble, unless BUSH
whacking begins when the leaves come out.
The Logan men, without exception, say that
II the Tollivers open the fight again the
WlOlc tIlUt Will Dt 1dhCn al
in all, however, the prospects for More
heads future are remarkably bright, and
she is evidently destined to become town
of more than ordinary Importance.
Achance for Morehead Law.
CHICAGO, Dec. pa dispatch from Ash
land, Wis. about the fire at Wakefield.
Mich. says that the lawless element had
full control of the town during the progress
of the fire. Hundreds of shots were fired
by the roughs to intimidate merchants who
were endeavoring to save some Of their
stock. They went into number of stores
in body and while some of them would
cover the inmates with revolvers, others
would be robbing the stores Of the most val
liable goods. The whiskey secured from
the large number of saloons in the block
made the men perfect demons, and the people
who had property stood by aghast. They
were powerless, and made no efforts to in
terfere with what was going on. Streets
were filled with hatless women, some rush
ing about searching for lost children and
others wringing their hands and crying as
they watched the destruction of their homes.
Wakefield was typical mining region town
and composed entirely Of wooden buildings.
STORM AND SICKNESS.